Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council recently signed the order of the State Council, announcing the newly revised "Regulations Nature Reserves of the People's Republic of China" (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations"), which will be implemented from March 15,2026. The "Regulations" aim to advance the construction of nature reserves with high quality, strengthen the protection and management of nature reserves, comprehensively promote construction of ecological civilization and a beautiful China, and accelerate the modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature. The "Regulations" consist of 5 chapters and 8 articles, with the main revisions as follows. Firstly, the functional orientation of nature reserves has been improved. According to the types of nature reserves, relevant standards are, and nature reserves are defined as specific land and marine areas with the main purpose of protecting typical natural ecosystems, natural habitats of rare and endangered wildlife species, and natural relics special significance, so as to achieve scientific protection and rational utilization of natural resources. Secondly, the overall requirements for the construction of nature reserves have been clarified. It isulated that the construction of nature reserves should implement the line, principles, and policies of the Party and the state, the decision-making and deployment, practice the concept that lucid and lush mountains are invaluable assets, adhere to the people-centered development idea, adhere to the priority of ecological protection and the overall consideration of protection and development, adhere to the principle suiting measures to local conditions and highlighting features, build a mechanism of government-led, multi-party participation, and social sharing, and achieve the unity of ecological protection, green, and improvement of people's livelihood.

Third, the reform of the management system of nature reserves will be implemented. It is clarified that the competent forestry and grassland of the State Council is responsible for the supervision and management of nature reserves throughout the country, the relevant departments of the State Council are responsible for the supervision and management of nature reserves within scope of their respective responsibilities, and the management institutions of nature reserves are responsible for the protection and management of the corresponding nature reserves. Fourth, the establishment of reserves will be standardized. It is clarified that the establishment of nature reserves should have the conditions; local-level nature reserves will be integrated into provincial-level nature reserves; it isulated that the delimitation of the area of nature reserves should take into account the integrity of the distribution area of the protected objects such as the natural ecosystem, the manageability and needs of the surrounding economic and social development. Fifth, the protection and management of nature reserves will be strengthened. It is stipulated that the overall protection, systematic and comprehensive management of nature reserves should be implemented; the monitoring network should be strengthened, the ecological risk should be assessed and warned in time; the human activities are prohibited in principle the core protected areas of nature reserves, and strictly restricted in the general control areas; the management institutions of nature reserves should establish a daily patrol system, formulate emergency response plans for emergencies and strengthen the supervision and inspection of the protection of nature reserves. Sixth, the legal responsibility will be strictly enforced. It is further clarified that the types of illegal and the law enforcement subjects that should be punished, and the punishment will be intensified. (Liaoxin News Agency)